The Republican journal., 1887-01-06
A Conventional Experience

BY HAL OWEN.
II would give HnNthin. to 20 said Alice.
looking with longing eyes AT a ticket of admi>-
sion To the National Democratic Convention
"Why. my dear, You are not Democrat.'
said her uncle. looking at her over his glasses.
NO of course not though I'm sure couldn't
tell why: that is Just the reason ! want to 20.
really mean To know something of this cam
paign and the >>,ic> involved. l think | am
not TOO ambitious in aspiring to a> intelligent
knowledge H. the average business man has; in
fact. dream of Knowing more than Il large
numhcr OF the voters themselves, including the
creatures | see about the streets every day. !
wanted 50 much to 20 to the Republican Con-
vcntion: there ! could have conSccnioii>N
Joined IN the enthusiasm: but mother held up
her hands in holy horror at the idea of such an
'unconN entionar proceeding, and father SHOOK
his head. and said no place for girls But |
have persisted and since mot her found that the
smiths and Jonesc> went. aud that it is quite
the thing 10 he interested. she has subsidized.
There W i'll he no trouble in getting consent now.
and il would give me Il better idea of the pro-
ccc,ling> than all the reports i'll thri>tendom.'
Nv eli. Alice, YOU shall have the ticket. 1t
will give You good seat. though you will have
to 20 alone: but am not afraid 10 trust Il girl
to 90 anywhere where it is Respectable. if she
understands herself. and can take care of her
eyes. think can trust you. Go down town
with lnc in the morning. an'i will do a little
something to initiate you.
| ncle Jack chickie to himself. as Alice ran
up stairs. lie was Il good, sound old Democrat
himself. and nothing would please him better
than to make a convert of one of his tepubli-
can brothers children. II she We're only Il boy,
now, it would be of some use. il might count,
he thought haf-regretfully.
The next morning Alice was >kilfuliy pilotcd
through the dense crowd III and about the
Palmer House. 1t was great fun 10 stand. rs
She did, alone for little while. in the gallery
overlooking the grand entrance hall, the rotun-
ia. and the office. The >warln> OF men crowd
ed. hustled. and jo>tlcd each other a> they
moved hithcr and thiihcr; their movements
seemed ahoutel> purpo>cr>> ;> those Of Il swarm
of insects whrlin. and whrriny in the sun
shine. hut the faces were eager and anxious.
Each anl every one seemed seeking something;
"I> it an office: Each and every one, from the
man who had come hoping to be nominated
president OF this great land. down to the man
who had come 10 cheer somebody. ii nlattercd
not much whether it was the dark horse or the
light. was intent upon glinn" some selfish ld-
vantage. The best thing TO be seen was the
distribution of the mail. 1t really almost soft
encd one into an interest III the gllc>t of the
which they looked over the great pile, Of very
Icminnc-lookin@ letters to notice how quickly
they would recognize familiar writing. and how
Gladly they would read the home news. Alice
.reW quite romantic is She watching from her
perch. mentally determined by the looks of the
receiver whether the welcome ml>>lNc> were
from wife, sweetheart, or children. Her steady
9aZe was distracted for IN instant by the wave
Of a hat in her direction. Just bright glance
of recognition from her fastidiou> friend, Linz
coin Finders. that was all, for he was at once
lost in the crowd: but ii was enough to turn
her thou rlt> from the crowd into quite differ
cnt channel What would he think to see her
here: she could not help admitting that II did
make Il difference To her what he thought. But
She braVclN rose above the conviction that she
had probably lowered herself III his opinion by
>howin" an interest in anything but the waltz,
the latest novel. and ken>n"ton. and resolved
to enjoy and improve herself to the best of her
ability on this occasion.
tnclc Jack took her TO the rooms of all the
different ,clcgations. int .oduccd her to some
men of prominence. and pointed out others;
and, in short. treated her like man. which
suited her mood and the occasion exactly AZ
ter they had rcgainetl the street, he said. Now
miss. wishing you pleasant and profitable day
! leave YOU 10 your ,li>cretion, and was gone
before Alice had time for a word.
Finding She was left upon her own resources
She determined To prove equal to the occasion,
and started for the Exposition Building. She
met with no more trouble or embarrassment
than She would have done in going to Il lecture
and was politely a>>ig gmcd good seat in the
section to which her ticket admitted her. She
found herself in the vicinity of some intelligent
gentlemen to whose conversation she listened
with attention. She was sorry when they
moved away and gave place to some pretty
Young Ladies.
and the first business, after the reading of
resolutions that We're dry enough to be brittle.
was 10 appoint Il permanent chairman. This
business was speedily accomplished. and Mr..
Villas. of i>con>ili, was escorted to he seat
of honor amid signs of unanimous satisfaction.
Other business being attended to. motion
made to adjourn. This created much
opposition and confusion that the roll of the
states was called to settle the question. Alice
took ont her tall book and followed closely as
each states ballot WAS announced. Her cheeks
%oWcd with excitement, for she knew enough
to see clearly that much more was involved
than the mere question Of adjournment. that it
meant life or threatened death to some project.
When New York was called and "Scventy-two
noes" We're answered, She felt like joining the
yell of protest that went up from the muZZled
minority of that state. The proceedings We're
DELAYED by the confusion for Il few moments,
and all about there was discussion on the Unit
Rule suppressed little woman who sat
next Alice looke, at her husband appeangly,
saving:
John. what are they doing? What is the
unit rule: don't remember il in arithnctic!'
Mp s.'.i' nel', "oi' ,,.'hc u. Ioose oi
."utScil ny aShilS 4'cH''ohs' was ihe Nasty
i'p.a. . a.. ...... ,,: :. e.
wne " .hc pr'.!! !o.',,s iaaics III IRON.
'"Ihe" 10 ,ie o'iGr wnh' Ahne' me, WHAT 90 you
SUPPOSE they are doing now: They have elect
e, , 'i'c ,Hsutl' oi the hiieu states, mat was
'''e o,ie lhe. 'o"h u 'nrre' WASH II
VI oo'i>e, ";''.,' ne. ere l!lakinS wee
li.er''n', NV ,,'ih. A'teI ,'' u over:
WI .".i;T "ii' pe oohe. Oh no. IL won l.
o,'n,i .hef VIII nav 10 appoint permanent
,i, h'i" .''o,'; ne'iu Ar,h,It "a. |9. even
,'ls .in! Mou'u nc sure 10 10 lliHl to-day 50 !
rou,nt NY ,.'','h ~ orucr 10, 10 ,o>e Word.
i'''t io,ei! o,ol,le niouslachc in't reporter
mas; = nave hol taken ny eyes on from MN!
, y, ha. Ply .ne alla,rs II, ol 'ne nation are
,.ol II, M",', i,,, was lt remark niG
neil,a ti'ec a. ,'ias liolirhi. Hi'e started
',, ,1. ,">neu' lol nc rr'1ShiHen ine lan'ilir,
,',oo'i. ,,' .o".s oi Lnco'll tnicr>. cne ~ nor
,uii' nor III any way pctray her identity 10